They are off! He stumbled. Jock quickly recovered and took hold. California Chrome was brilliant in Santa Anita Derby. He looked like Usain Bolt turning for home. Chest puffed out. Striding with ease and never giving back anything to his competitors. That was an impressive showoff style win. He can now strut his big boy attitude going into Kentucky, but what about the horse behind him. Hoppertunity lost nothing in that effort. Mike Smith knew he was up against it with the Santa Anita surface and the running style of Hoppertunity, and he gave his horse every chance to operate within the lines. Hoppertunity lost his momentum turning for home but Smith gathered him, went to the stick, and his horse came and tried the entire time. The Kentucky Derby sets up beautifully for Hoppertunity. He will be passing horses and passing them fast with an expected fast pace. Mike Smith will now have an interesting choice to make. He is the rider of Intense Holiday who won Risen Star and came back to finish second in the Louisiana Derby. It is great to be Mike Smith right now.
I know who I will choose.
Art Sherman the horse man with a blue collar love for the game got dressed up for the occasion and the occasion welcomed him with opened arms. California Chrome will now bring him back to the place where hoopla of pom and circumstance reigns supreme for a week. The Santa Anita Derby is a validation for what he thought about the horse after a few races. He knew his charge was maturing mentally and ready for big effort going forward.
Jockey Victor Espinoza rode California Chrome with such confidence. The little engine that could broke off from them and said bye bye. This little engine is reminiscing of War Emblem. He can go until he can't go anymore.
I don't know if California Chrome will win the Kentucky Derby but it will be fun watching Sherman treat the derby fever that will take hold of him now. It will be exciting watching him maneuver through the tape recorders and television camera that will document every moment of his life.
Unlike the Santa Anita Derby, the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct didn't have the fairytale ending that many was hoping for. Social Inclusion ran his heart out in the Wood. His post position was a tall order and his jock tried his best to get him away from there and settled. Social Inclusion wanted no part of settling. He took off and told them to come catch him if they can. They could and they did. Wicked Strong who showed off the Holy Bull form, ran him down with Jamaican born jockey Rajiv Maragh. This was the first win in the Wood Memorial for the Jamaican born jockey.
Social Inclusion was a tired horse at the end of the race. He showed he is a tough animal that will give it all he has. He finished third. Maybe not enough points to enter the starting gate on the first Saturday of May, but one never know with horses. He may be there in the end.
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